Seiichi Uchikawawas a guest at Sunoko Elementary School in Fukuoka on Wednesday as part of the school's 100th anniversary celebration.

Seibu Lions

Fumiya Nishiguchidid some long distance throwing at Seibu 2 Stadium on Tuesday and told reporters that if he worked hard now, it would mean things would be easier for him next year. He also plans on tossing a bullpen session on the first day of spring camp. Nishiguchi has his eyes on the Lions' home opener on 4/3.

The new indoor Nago Baseball Stadium training facilities will be outfitted with multiple windows, giving people on the outside a good view of what is going on inside (from the northern and southern sides of the building). Total construction costs for the new facilities will be around 1.61B yen. Construction is scheduled to be complete by late January.

Chihiro Kanekomet with the Buffaloes on Wednesday (second this winter) and agreed to 160M yen (up 10M yen). Reports from the 16th estimated the Buffaloes' first offer to be 165M yen, but Kaneko later told reporters that the estimate was higher than the actual offer and that he decided to sign today because he did not think the Buffaloes were going to budge.